On the Fourth of July, Jim McDonnell took this amazing shot of Coney Island’s beach brimming with colorful umbrellas. Our first thought on seeing so many umbrellas was that it could be challenging to find one’s way back after a swim. “The 4th itself started out hazy but turned hot, humid and incredibly crowded!” says Jim, whose set of Coney Island Independence Day Weekend photos may be viewed here.
Photographer and amusement park aficionado Jim McDonnell has uploaded two new videos of Scream Zone rides to his YouTube channel. Jim was the grand prize winner of last year’s Luna Park film contest and his videos feature an inspired pairing of edited images with music. Jim’s latest shows Zamperla’s Turbo Force, which has been christened the “Zenobio” in Coney Island. The 100-foot-tall thrill ride sweeps passengers through the air at speeds of over 60 mph.
As you can see in Jim’s vid, it’s also a thrill to stand and watch the Turbo Force in action. When I worked with Wade Shows, this spectacular was often set up near the entrance to the carnival midway. The first time that I happened to pass by the ride in action, I experienced the optical illusion that the whirling arm hurtling in my direction was coming directly at me. Pretty soon I was lingering by the fence to experience the vicarious thrill of this scream machine.
Jim’s short vid of the Steeplechase Cavalry coaster aka the Motocoaster is the first showing the ride in action in Coney Island. The Zamperla coaster pays homage to Steeplechase Park’s signature horse race ride that made a circuit around the park until it closed in 1964 (“Steeplechase Express: Will Zamperla MotoCoaster Pony Up for Coney Island?,” ATZ, February 15, 2010). It’s one of two new Zamperla coasters in Coney Island’s Scream Zone. When a video of the second –the Soarin’ Eagle aka Zamperla’s Volare– is available, we’ll post a link to it here.
This vid of the Sling Shot is one of several already uploaded to YouTube by Scream Zone visitors. We expect to see many more– the Sling Shot is as much of a show as a ride. On the vid’s soundtrack, you can hear the exclamations and screams of the crowd. In a few weeks, a video camera will be mounted on the capsule and patrons will be able to purchase a video recording of their ride complete with close-ups shots of their faces. This on-ride video of the Sling Shot is part of Luna Park’s Channel of Coney Island ride videos.
We’d like to say: Watch this corner for coming attractions! We certainly hope it doesn’t become a flea market or remain an empty lot. The snow-covered expanse at the corner of Surf Avenue and 12th Street is where the Bank of Coney Island building stood for nearly 90 years. The building had remained vacant since real estate speculator Joe Sitt of Thor Equities bought it in 2005 for $3 million. The bank was demolished in November.
Thanks to photographer Jim McDonnell for another excellent pic from his first walk of the new year in snowy Coney Island.
Amusing the Zillion 